초록 ▼

A food tray and tray insert are provided that are particularly adapted for use in a heated food holding compartment. Methods of storing cooked food are also provided using such devices. The devices and use thereof allows cooked food such as hamburger patties to be stored at elevated temperatures for

A food tray and tray insert are provided that are particularly adapted for use in a heated food holding compartment. Methods of storing cooked food are also provided using such devices. The devices and use thereof allows cooked food such as hamburger patties to be stored at elevated temperatures for extended periods of time without a significant deleterious effect on the organoleptic properties of the cooked food.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A food tray for storing individual portions of food comprising: a tray body having a first end and a second end, a lower surface and a sidewall structure defining an open top of the tray body, a substantially uniform tray height and a tray volume within said tray body; anda tray insert removably

1. A food tray for storing individual portions of food comprising: a tray body having a first end and a second end, a lower surface and a sidewall structure defining an open top of the tray body, a substantially uniform tray height and a tray volume within said tray body; anda tray insert removably positioned in the tray volume below the top of the sidewall structure and comprising an elongated, generally flat supporting surface and insert supports defining a tray insert height between said tray lower surface and said tray insert supporting surface;said supporting surface being above said lower surface, and wherein said tray insert height is at least about 0.2125 inches above the lower surface;said supporting surface having a plurality of series of spaced apart apertures extending therethrough, each series of spaced apart apertures arranged in a shape corresponding to the shape of a food item to be placed on the respective series of apertures, and at least one of said series of spaced apart apertures having a food item placed thereon to essentially cover the series of apertures, the apertures providing a void space in the supporting surface area of at least about 30%;said lower surface and said supporting surface defining a lower volume therebetween, and the supporting surface defining a food holding volume in conjunction with said sidewall structure for storing food items completely contained in the food holding volume, the lower volume being between about 10% and about 80% of the tray volume;said tray body being removably placeable in a heated compartment having an upper compartment surface and a heated lower compartment surface to maintain the temperature of the cooked food items in a desired elevated storage temperature range so that said supporting surface is elevated above said heated lower compartment surface and a top edge of the tray is between about 0 and 0.25 inches below the upper compartment surface to restrict water vapor from leaving the tray volume and water from evaporating from the cooked food in the tray when said tray is in the heated compartment. 2. The food tray of claim 1, wherein said supporting surface comprises a generally flat surface. 3. The food tray of claim 1, wherein said series of apertures form a circular shape defined by a plurality of apertures arranged in a circular pattern generally corresponding to the size of hamburger patties to be placed thereon. 4. The food tray of claim 1, wherein said apertures are at least generally rectangular. 5. The food tray of claim 1, wherein said apertures are at least generally circular. 6. The food tray of claim 1, wherein said tray insert height is approximately one inch less than said tray height. 7. The food tray of claim 1, further comprising hamburger patties stacked two patties high. 8. The food tray of claim 1, wherein said tray body is constructed from a material having a low heat capacity, for ease of handling by a person when the food item on the supporting surface in the heated compartment is maintained at an elevated temperature of up to about 210° F. 9. The food tray of claim 8, wherein said material comprises polycarbonate. 10. A food holding cabinet comprising a heated compartment having an upper compartment surface and a heated lower compartment surface; anda food holding tray removably positioned in the heated compartment, the food holding tray comprising a tray body having a first end and a second end, a lower surface and a sidewall structure defining an open top of the tray body, a substantially uniform tray height and a tray volume within said tray body; anda generally flat supporting surface being positioned at a supporting surface height above said lower surface and below the top of the sidewall structure, said supporting surface height being at least about 0.2125 inch;said lower surface and said supporting surface defining a lower volume therebetween, and the supporting surface defining a food holding volume in conjunction with said sidewall structure for storing food items completely contained in the food holding volume, the lower volume being between about 10% and about 80% of the tray volume; andsaid tray body being removably placed in the heated compartment to maintain the temperature of the cooked food items in a desired elevated storage temperature range, said supporting surface being elevated above said heated lower compartment surface, and a top edge of the tray is between about 0 and 0.25 inches below the upper compartment surface to restrict water vapor from leaving the tray volume and from evaporating from the cooked food in the tray when said tray is in the heated compartment. 11. The food holding cabinet of claim 10, further comprising a removable tray insert, the removable tray insert comprising said supporting surface; andinsert supports defining said supporting surface height;said supporting surface further comprising a plurality of series of spaced apart apertures extending through, each series of spaced apart apertures arranged in a shape corresponding to the shape of a food item to be placed on the respective series of apertures to essentially cover the series of apertures, the apertures providing a void space in the supporting surface area of at least about 30%. 12. The food holding cabinet of claim 10, said supporting surface being integral to the tray body and fixed at said supporting surface height. 13. The food holding cabinet of claim 12, wherein the volume between the lower surface and the supporting surface is a sealed void. 14. The food holding cabinet of claim 10, wherein said supporting surface height is approximately one inch less than said tray height. 15. The food holding cabinet of claim 10, wherein said tray body is constructed from a material having a low heat capacity, for ease of handling by a person when the food item on the supporting surface in the heated compartment is maintained at an elevated temperature of up to about 210° F. 16. The food tray of claim 1, the lower volume being about 50% of the tray volume. 17. The food holding cabinet of claim 10, the lower volume being about 50% of the tray volume. 18. The food tray of claim 1, said plurality of series of spaced apart apertures of the tray insert comprising a finger opening for insertion of a human finger below said support surface for removal of the tray insert. 19. The food holding cabinet of claim 10, the tray insert further comprising a finger opening in said support surface configured for insertion of a human finger below said support surface for removal of the tray insert. 20. The food holding cabinet of claim 11, the plurality of series of spaced apart apertures of the tray insert comprising a finger opening for insertion of a human finger below said support surface for removal of the tray insert.